Game review: Madagascar 3, Europes most wanted

All the characters from Madagascar in a circus-themed setting based in Europe? Sounds like the perfect set-up for a cash-in action/adventure game full of hijinks and mini challenges.

Play as Alex, Melman, Gloria, Marty and all the new characters from the movie as they roam around Europe, performing crowd-pleasing circus acts while looking for a way to get back home.

There are two modes to the game, Story and Circus. Unfortunately, there is little difference between the two. Most of Story mode comprises of a penguin telling you to go fetch something while trying to dodge animal control officers. Not a difficult prospect, as the officers have the intelligence of inanimate objects.

The remainder of Story mode is taken up by a few pathetic chases and six mini-games - the exact games that are playable in Circus mode.

Graphically, the game doesn't do itself any favours either. It's PlayStation 2 quality and that's being generous. There are some horrific collision issues, especially in London, and some of them will even require the game to be restarted just to get yourself unstuck from a rogue polygon.

The sound includes generic instrumentals rather than catchy songs, and the characters repeat catchphrases ad nauseam until turning the game off becomes preferable to hearing a Chris Rock impersonator repeat, "That's how I get my kicks."

Movie/game conversions are traditionally a disappointment, but Madagascar 3 takes this to a new low. If there's a game to steer clear of this year, this is it.